Missouri transportation leaders are looking to regroup following voters' overwhelming rejection of a proposed sales tax to fund road and bridge improvements on Tuesday.

Despite supporters spending millions, the measure lost by roughly 58 percent to 41 percent. And it lost across the state -- in St. Louis, St. Louis County, the Kansas City area and even in rural parts of the state. In St. Louis and St. Louis County, the measure went down by a 2-to-1 margin.

Steve Miller, chair of the state's Highways and Transportation Commission, told reporters Wednesday they'll continue to try to educate Missourians as to what needs to be done.

"We have a problem with the funding for transportation," Miller said. "We have unmet needs that directly impact safety on our roads and economic opportunity…. Those aren't going to change; those are going to continue to grow."

But MoDOT did not present any alternatives, such as a gas tax or toll roads.

In addition, MoDOT Director Dave Nichols says they will continue to focus on keeping travelers safe.

"We have the seventh-largest highway system in the country, (but) we're 40th in funding. That hasn't gone away, we still have that to deal with," Nichols said "We're going to keep pushing really, really hard to keep our highway system and our bridges in good condition for as long as we can with the dollars that we have, but we're not going to be able to do it for long."

Nichols estimates that Missouri will begin having a hard time matching federal transportation dollars by the year 2020.

Objections to the proposed sales tax ranged from exemptions for long-haul truckers to the impact on poor residents. Opponents came from both sides of the political spectrum -- they included several fiscally conservative Republican lawmakers and Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat.

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Missourians decisively rejected a sales tax increase earmarked for transportation projects, making for a striking defeat for a well-financed campaign from proponents and a victory for an ideologically diverse opposition coalition.

The tax – commonly known as “Amendment 7” or the “transportation tax” – would have raised Missouri’s sales tax by 0.75 percent for 10 years. It would have also barred Missouri's policymakers from instituting tolls or raising the state’s gas tax during that same time period.

Although several issues and races are crowding Tuesday’s primary ballot, the transportation tax amendment has been particularly contentious. The amendment increases the state sales tax, now 4.225 percent, by three-quarters of a cent to fund transportation projects.

Missourians will vote Aug. 5 on a 0.75 percent sales tax increase for transportation projects. The proposal — commonly known as the transportation tax — would generate billions of dollars over the next decade to fix roads, repair bridges and improve mass transit.

The stakes are high. Supporters say Missouri needs more money for its aging transportation infrastructure. With gas tax revenue dwindling and federal funding uncertain, some policymakers see the sales tax as a guaranteed way to fund transportation needs.